HK1185423B - Method for authenticating an electronic watch and electronic watch for implementing the method - Google Patents

Description

Method for authenticating an electronic watch and electronic watch for carrying out the method

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method for authenticating an electronic watch which may have a time display using hands driven by an electric element. The watch comprises in particular at least a processing and control circuit with a time base and means for storing personal data and/or authentication data of the brand and/or serial number and/or operating settings of the watch. The processing and control circuit may be, for example, a microcontroller unit.

The invention also relates to an electronic watch for implementing the watch authentication method.

Background

In order to be able to authenticate a mechanical or electromechanical watch, the watch is provided with an identification mark, in particular during manufacture. The identification mark may take the form of a code applied, for example, to the outside of the watch case, which code is not directly visible when the watch is worn on the wrist, thus avoiding making said watch less attractive. The code may be, for example, a coded image such as a two-dimensional barcode as defined in european patent application No. 1804195A1. This coded image, obtained by a special calculation algorithm, is based on the identifier of the watch, which is normally sold together with the card bearing said watch identifier. The code may be decoded by a decoding operation using a decoding key provided by the head office. Therefore, in order to authenticate the watch, a specific computing device must be used, which is slow and complex and therefore presents drawbacks.

A mechanical or electro-mechanical watch may thus include a personalized RFID circuit chip either inside the watch case or hidden outside the watch case. The identification code is thus stored in the RFID circuit chip so as to allow a nearby reading device to read the identification code by wireless communication. This marking improves the protection against counterfeiting of the watch by authenticating the origin of said watch. However, as mentioned above, the need to have specific external means to be able to read and identify the identification data of the watch constitutes a drawback.

Reference may also be made to french patent application No.2630228A1, which discloses a perpetual calendar watch. The watch is also provided with hands for the display of the time. The watch also comprises an electronic control circuit and a time-setting stem (stem) to which a plurality of operations, each involving a determinate function, can be applied. An electronic circuit in the watch case is able to recognize a code corresponding to a determined series of manipulations performed with the time-setting stem. This allows for a change to the perpetual calendar programming mode and the specific programming to be performed. The electronic circuit is able to recognize whether the code for the change to the programming mode has been entered correctly. However, the electronic circuit is not capable of operating the watch so as to provide authentication information about said watch.

In french patent application No.2488704A1, in addition to the time base assembly, the analog or digital watch comprises means for selecting the code transmitted by indicating the selection on the display device. The watch further comprises means for communicating the code via an electro-optical (electro-optical) portion, which displays the code in binary form. The code transmitted by the electro-optical component can be acquired by an electro-optical processing device. As mentioned above, it is necessary to use external processing means to read the code or authenticate the watch, which constitutes a drawback.

Disclosure of Invention

The main object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above drawbacks by proposing a method for authenticating an electronic watch, which can be started quickly and which is able to detect the authenticity of the watch without the use of external tools.

The invention therefore relates to a method for authenticating an electronic watch, comprising the features of independent claim 1.

The specific steps of the authentication method are defined in the dependent claims 2 to 9.

An advantage of the electronic watch authentication method according to the invention lies in the fact that the indicator device belonging to said watch can be activated as soon as the activation means are activated for the change to the authentication mode. When activated, the indicator device is capable of providing authentication information directly to a user of the watch to verify the authenticity of the watch. The indicator device can indicate the identification information visually or acoustically or by tactile sensation, in particular via a vibrating member.

Advantageously, one or more of the time indicator hands of the watch may form part of the indicator device. To achieve this, the processing and control unit is configured and programmed to control the electrically powered components. The electrically powered component drives one or more hands upon activation of the activation member and activation of the change to the authentication mode. The hand or hands are thus able to indicate successively each digit or number of at least a part of the authentication code of the watch brand and/or the serial number on the watch face to authenticate the watch. The hand or hands can also explain the watch to authenticate a specific rotary movement. When a watch is sold, the portion of the authentication code displayed by the hand or hands on the dial can be compared with the identification code marked on the card provided with said watch.

The invention therefore relates to an electronic watch for carrying out said authentication method, comprising the features defined in independent claim 10.

Particular embodiments of the electronic watch are defined in the dependent claims 11 to 21.

One advantage of the electronic watch for implementing the authentication method lies in the fact that it comprises an actuation member arranged to be activated in a certain way to cause the processing and control circuit to change to the watch authentication mode. Thus, the indicator means of the watch can be operated by the circuit to provide watch authentication information upon activation of the activation member. The indicator means may comprise one or more hands moving on the watch face, or one or two date discs, or one or more optical or acoustic signals, or a vibrating member.

Drawings

The objects, advantages and features of the above-mentioned electronic watch authentication method and of an electronic watch for carrying out the authentication method will become more apparent in the following non-limiting description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a schematic view of a plurality of electronic units of an electronic watch displaying time via hands for carrying out the authentication method of the invention; and

fig. 2 shows a simplified diagram of the steps of an embodiment of the authentication method of an electronic watch displaying the time via the hands according to the invention.

Detailed Description

In the following description, all these components of the electronic watch for carrying out the watch authentication method are described only in a simplified manner, which are well known to the person skilled in the art. The following description is mainly based on an electronic watch with a time display using hands, but the authentication method can also be applied to other electronic watch types.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a number of electronic components of an electronic watch 1, in this embodiment an electronic watch with a time display using hands 6 and 7. The electronic watch also comprises at least one date disc 8, which is mounted for example in rotation around an axis perpendicular to the bottom plate of the watch movement, for example around the central axis of said watch. The date disc is arranged below the time indicator dial 5. In the normal operating mode of the watch, each digit or number of the date disc is displayed in the order of day to day through the reading aperture 9 of the time indicator disc 5.

The electronic watch 1 also comprises a processing and control circuit 11, preferably a quartz resonator 13 of the oscillating stage of the microcontroller processing unit and of the processing and control circuit to define a time base. The microcontroller unit may comprise, for example, a low-power 8-bit CooIIRISC microcontroller, manufactured by EMMicroelectronic-Marin, Switzerland under the name EM 6812.

The electronic watch 1 further comprises an electric powered part 10, the electric powered part 10 being constituted for example by one or more micro-motors and a plurality of gears for activating hands and a date disc. The motorized part is controlled by a processing and control circuit, mainly for driving hands 6 and 7 on the watch disc 5, and for rotating the date disc. More than two hands may also be provided in the case of a timing watch, for example.

Two date disks 8 can also be mounted one on top of the other or one on the other side. These date discs may each be mounted rotatably about a respective or same axis perpendicular to the watch plate. These date discs can be driven by the electric element 10 independently of each other or in association with each other to indicate the date of the month.

The electronic watch 1 further comprises one or more actuating members 4, 4' connected to the processing and control circuit 11 and a memory means 12. These energizing members are arranged to control, via the processing and control circuit 11, the execution of a plurality of watch operations or functions, which energizing members are programmed for this purpose. The memory means may store personal data and/or identification data of the brand of the watch and/or the serial number of the particular watch, as well as operating parameters of the watch. These operating parameters of the watch allow the processing and control circuit 11 to control the normal operation of said watch and the execution of the watch authentication mode described below. Once the authentication mode is activated by the at least one activated energizing member 4, 4', indicator means are provided to indicate the watch authentication information to the watch user visually, acoustically or by tactile sensation.

The memory means may be constituted in part by a non-volatile EEPROM memory 12 or flash memory, which stores one or more identification codes of the brand and/or a serial number of the watch. In a known manner, such a memory can be provided to prevent reprogramming of the identification code or codes after manufacture of the watch and once they have been stored. This makes it more difficult to counterfeit the watch.

If the processing and control circuit 11 is formed by a microcontroller processing unit, the memory means 12 can be partially or wholly integrated into said microcontroller processing unit. The microcontroller unit may also comprise a different type of memory than EEPROM or flash memory for storing the operating program of the unit.

The energizing members 4, 4' may for example be made of: a conventional stem/crown (crown), a push button, one or more capacitive touch keys provided on the watch glass or on a part of the watch case, and a bezel (bezel). Each actuating member may be electrically connected to processing and control circuitry to control the performance of a particular operation or function. A plurality of actuation members of different types may be fitted to the watch to control the execution of a particular function.

Where the energizing member is a stem/crown 4, the crown is able to occupy a first rest position and a second position drawn towards the outside of the watch case. In the first rest position, the stem of the crown may close the electrical contacts of the processing and control circuit 11, for example. In the second position, pulled towards the outside of the watch case, however, the electrical contact of the processing and control circuit is broken. Thus, by opening and closing the electrical contact by activating the stem/crown, the processing and control circuit can be activated to change to the authentication mode. The crown is pulled out to its second outer position and pushed back to its first rest position within a determined period of time, for example between 1 and 4 seconds, to change the processing and control circuit to the authentication mode.

It should be noted that it is also possible to envisage breaking said electrical contact in the first rest position of the stem/crown. While when the stem/crown is in the second position, drawn towards the outside of the watch case, the electrical contacts can be closed according to an electronic processing and control circuit provided for this purpose.

A shock sensor connected to the watch glass or a magnetic sensor connected to the processing and control circuit may also be provided as the excitation member. The magnetic sensor, which is arranged inside the watch case, can be activated by a permanent magnet. The permanent magnet may be placed on a watchband or a strap of the electronic watch. The tongue (tongue) of the buckle of the watchband or strap may be a magnet for activating a magnetic sensor to change the processing and control circuit to the authentication mode.

A battery in the battery compartment of the watch, which battery is connected to the processing and control circuit 1, may also be provided as the energizing member. A battery electrically connected in its battery compartment may provide electrical power to the electronic watch components. The battery may be removed from the battery compartment and immediately replaced in the battery compartment to provide an electrical initialization signal to the processing and control circuitry. The electrical initialization signal causes the processing and control circuitry to change to a watch authentication mode.

In order to illustrate more clearly the method of authenticating an electronic watch according to the invention, figure 2 shows a plurality of steps of said authentication method of the electronic watch 1. In this embodiment, the electronic watch 1 displays the time via at least two hands 6 and 7 on a dial 5 with numbered hour marks. The electronic watch includes a band 3 fixed to a watch case 2. The actuating members of the watch are a stem/crown 4 and a plurality of capacitive touch keys 4' arranged at a sufficient distance from each other on the watch glass. Another button (not shown) or a toggle/crown may be used to activate the touch key. However, these touch keys may also be activated permanently. These touch keys 4' can be used to enter an authentication mode or to enter data or to set or select different menus or functions of the watch. To enter the authentication mode, it is also possible to envisage first applying a pressure briefly on at least one touch key, followed by a pressure applied permanently, or activating a plurality of touch keys simultaneously.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 2, a stick/crown 4 may preferably be used to change from a time mode to a watch authentication mode. To achieve this, the stem/crown 4 must first be pulled out from its first rest position to its second position towards the outside of the watch case, as indicated on the basis of reference sign a in fig. 2. This breaks the electrical contacts to the processing and control circuitry. The stem/crown 4 is then pushed back from its second position to its first rest position to close again the electrical contacts of the processing and control circuit. This operation must be completed within a certain time limit, for example between 1 and 4 seconds, to perform a change from the time pattern shown in reference sign a in fig. 2 to the authentication pattern shown in reference sign B in fig. 2.

In the authentication mode, at least one hand 6 or 7 forms part of a device for indicating the authentication information of the watch to the person wearing the watch. The authentication information may be at least a portion of an identification code of the brand and/or a serial number of the watch. Preferably, the two hands 6 and 7, or the three hands of the chronograph watch, can be used to indicate the number or number of at least one part of the identification code, to visually indicate to the wearer of the watch. However, one indicator hand may be sufficient for this purpose, for example a minute or second hand. Two or three hands on top of each other (superpose) can be driven together by the motorized member based on commands provided by the processing and control circuit.

The superposed hands 6 and 7 are driven by an electric element to move continuously on the dial 5 to the time indicator position to indicate successive digits or numbers of the identification code to be checked. According to reference B in fig. 2, the superposed hands 6 and 7 are moved to successively indicate the number 2, then the number 5, then the number 9 and finally the number 1, to give the required part of the identification code 2591. This portion of the identification code indicated by the pointer can be compared with the identification code of the brand and/or the serial number of the watch marked on the card provided when the watch is sold. A single identification code may be provided for a watch brand, whereas the identification code representing the serial number is different for each watch manufactured.

Of course, if two consecutive digits or numbers are identical, the pointer may be moved over the dial in a particular manner to indicate to the user the same consecutive digits or numbers of the identification code being checked. In this case, the motorised means can drive the hands so that, for example, they make one complete revolution on the dial.

The time for changing from one time of indicating a position to another time of indicating a position is programmed in the processing and control circuit. Each change time or time period is set to allow the user to easily check each number or number indicated on the dial by means of the hands 6, 7. Once the hands have indicated sufficient numbers or numbers to authenticate the watch, the hands are reset by the motorised means to their time display state after a defined authentication mode operating period. Typically after 4 seconds, the hands controlled by the processing and control circuit are driven by the motorized means to display the time again, as indicated according to reference C in fig. 2. Any time delay caused by the authentication mode operation period can of course be corrected in a known manner by a counter integrated in the microcontroller unit.

In a variant for authenticating a watch, at least one hand 6 or 7 or two superposed hands 6, 7 are moved continuously after each activation of the energizing member 4, 4' to the dial time of the indicating position. This means that, after each activation of the energizing means provided for this purpose, said means are able to indicate the successive digits or numbers of the brand's identification code and/or the serial number of the watch to be checked. The two hands 6, 7 can also be moved alternately by the electrically powered means to indicate separately successive digits or numbers of the identification code of the watch to be checked.

In addition to providing a coded indication of the identification code, in the authentication mode at least one hand 6 or 7 can be moved in rotation on the dial for one or more rotational movements in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The hand or hands may also make one or more revolutions on the dial to stop at a determined position to provide watch authentication information.

In order to provide authentication information via the indicator device, one or two date discs driven by an electric element controlled by the processing and control circuit may be employed. The date disc or discs can thus be moved to indicate, through the holes in the dial, the successive digits or numbers of the brand's identification code and/or the serial number of the watch to be authenticated. The date discs can be driven in rotation independently of one another. As mentioned above, the date disc or discs can be moved in succession after each activation of the energizing members 4, 4' provided for this purpose. This means that successive digits or numbers of the brand's identification code and/or the serial number of the watch to be authenticated can be indicated to the user through the holes in the dial.

The electronic watch 1 may further comprise an LCD or LED or OLED display device (not shown), for example to display a plurality of data. The watch display device may also be an electroluminescent or electronic paper or electrophoretic display. The display device may also be used as an indicator device in authentication mode. The indicator device is able to display, continuously or simultaneously, a part of the brand identification code and/or of the serial number of the watch to be checked.

A plurality of light sources forming, for example, an array of light emitting diodes may also be used as indicator means. These light sources are controlled by the processing and control circuit when the energizing member is activated for a change to the authentication mode.

The indicator means may also be a sound generator for acoustically indicating a consecutive identification of a number or for providing a specific music track of the watch to be authenticated. The acoustic indicator device is activated by the processing and control circuit when the activation member is activated for a change to the authentication mode. The consecutive identification of the digits or numbers acoustically indicated to the user is stored in the storage means. From the description just given, a person skilled in the art can come to conceive a number of variants of the authentication method of an electronic watch and of an electronic watch for carrying out the method, without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims. Means for generating information by tactile sensation, such as a vibrating element on the wrist, may be used as indicator means. Combinations of different types of indicator means may be provided, for example visual indicator means in combination with acoustic or optical means. The indication by acoustic or optical means can be easily extracted by a device such as a mobile phone having an application for detecting the authenticity of e.g. a watch. Various actuation members may also be provided for activating the watch so that the watch changes to the watch authentication mode. For a chronograph watch, it is possible to use a second hand, which is centred and can be driven independently of the actuation of the other watch hands.

Claims (19)

1. Method for authenticating an electronic watch (1), said watch comprising at least one processing and control circuit (11) having a time base, hands (6, 7) for indicating time, said hands being driven by an electric unit (10) controlled by said processing and control circuit (11), and a unit (12) for storing personal data and/or brand identification data and/or a serial number and/or operating parameters of said watch, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

-activating at least one activation member (4, 4') of said watch to change to a watch authentication mode, wherein said activation member is connected to said processing and control circuit,

-operating an indicator device of the watch after activation of the energizing member, wherein in an authentication mode the hands form part of the indicator device to indicate watch authentication information to a user of the watch visually, acoustically or by tactile sensation, and

once said energizing means have been activated, at least one of said hands is driven by said electrically powered part to move on a time indication dial (5) to indicate watch authentication information.

2. Authentication method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one hand (6) is continuously moved to a time indication position on the dial to indicate a continuous number or number of the brand's identification code and/or of the serial number of the watch to be checked.

3. Authentication method according to claim 2, characterized in that in authentication mode the processing and control circuit (11) is programmed to operate the electrically powered part (10) to move at least one pointer (6) from a time indicating position to a successive time indicating position after a determined period of time to allow the user to check each number or number indicated and to reset the pointers to their time display state by the electrically powered part after a defined authentication mode operating period.

4. Authentication method according to claim 1, characterized in that in authentication mode, after each activation of said energizing means (4, 4 '), at least one hand (6) is continuously moved to a time indication position on said dial to indicate successive digits or numbers of the brand's identification code and/or of the serial number of the watch to be checked.

5. Authentication method according to claim 2, characterized in that at least two hands (6, 7) are moved alternately by said electrically powered part (10) to indicate respectively said consecutive digits or numbers of said identification code of said watch to be checked.

6. Authentication method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one hand (6) is moved on the dial (5) to perform one or more rotational movements in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction or to complete one or more revolutions on the dial, stopping at a determined position to provide watch authentication information.

7. Method for authenticating an electronic watch (1), said watch comprising at least one processing and control circuit (11) with a time base, at least one date disc (8) driven via an electric element (10) controlled by said processing and control circuit (11), said disc being arranged below a watch dial (5) having digits or numbers displayed through an aperture (9) in said dial, and an element (12) for storing personal data and/or brand identification data and/or a serial number and/or operating parameters of said watch, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

-activating at least one activation member (4, 4') of said watch to change to a watch authentication mode, wherein said activation member is connected to said processing and control circuit,

-operating an indicator device of the watch after activation of the activation member, wherein in an authentication mode the date disc forms part of the indicator device to indicate watch authentication information to a user of the watch visually, acoustically or by tactile sensation, and

moving said date disc to indicate, through said holes in said dial, successive digits or numbers of the brand's identification code and/or of the serial number of said watch to be authenticated.

8. Authentication method according to claim 7, characterized in that in authentication mode, after each activation of said energizing member (4, 4'), said date disc is moved continuously to indicate, through said hole in said dial, a consecutive number or number of the brand identification code and/or of the serial number of the watch to be authenticated.

9. An electronic watch (1) for carrying out the authentication method according to claim 1, wherein said watch comprises at least one processing and control circuit (11) having a time base, hands (6, 7) for indicating time, said hands being driven by an electric unit (10) controlled by said processing and control circuit (11), and a component (12) for storing personal data and/or identification data of the brand and/or a serial number and/or operating parameters of the watch, characterized in that said watch comprises at least one actuation member (4, 4') connected to said processing and control circuit, and the activation member may be activated to operate, in authentication mode, an indicator device of the watch comprising the hands (6, 7) capable of visually indicating to a user of the watch information for authenticating the watch.

10. Electronic watch (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that in authentication mode said electrically powered part (10) is operated by said processing and control circuit (11) to drive at least one hand (6) to a time indicating position on said dial to indicate the identification code of said brand and/or said number or number of serial numbers of said watch to be authenticated.

11. Electronic watch (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that in authentication mode at least two hands (6, 7) are superposed to be driven together (10) by said electrically powered part, so as to indicate the number of the identification code of said watch to be authenticated.

12. An electronic watch (1) for carrying out the authentication method according to claim 7, wherein the watch comprises at least one processing and control circuit (11) having a time base, at least one date disc (8) driven via an electric element (10) controlled by the processing and control circuit (11), the disc being arranged below a watch dial (5) having numbers or numbers displayed through an aperture (9) in the dial, and an element (12) storing personal data and/or identification data of a brand and/or a serial number and/or operating parameters of the watch, characterized in that the watch comprises at least one actuation member (4, 4') connected to the processing and control circuit and which is activatable to operate indicator means of the watch comprising the date disc (8) in an authentication mode, said date disc is arranged to be moved by said motorised means to indicate, through said hole in said dial, the number or number of the brand identification code and/or of the serial number of said watch to be authenticated.

13. Electronic watch (1) according to claim 12, characterised in that it comprises two date discs which can be actuated independently of each other by said electric element, so as to indicate, through said holes (9) in said dial, the number of the brand identification code and/or the serial number of the watch to be authenticated.

14. Electronic watch (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that said activation member is a stem/crown (4) able to occupy a first rest position in which the electrical contact of said processing and control circuit (11) is closed or open and a second position drawn towards the outside of the watch case (2) in which said electrical contact of said processing and control circuit is open or closed opposite to said first rest position, and in that said electrical contact is opened and closed by activating said stem/crown to enable said processing and control circuit to be activated to change to the authentication mode.

15. Electronic watch (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that said actuation means is at least one capacitive touch key (4') provided on the watch glass or on a portion of the watch case and in that said touch key is set permanently active or enabled to activate said watch authentication mode by means of a push button or a time-setting stem/crown (4).

16. Electronic watch (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that said energizing means are constituted by a battery in a battery compartment of said watch, said battery being connected to said processing and control circuit (11) to provide electric power, wherein said battery can be removed from said battery compartment and replaced in said battery compartment to provide said processing and control circuit with an electric initialization signal for said change to watch authentication mode.

17. Electronic watch (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that said energizing means are constituted by a magnetic sensor connected to said processing and control circuit, wherein said magnetic sensor can be activated by a permanent magnet provided in the wristband or strap (3) of said watch to change to watch authentication mode.

18. Electronic watch (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that said actuation member is a button or bezel or a shock sensor of the watch glass, electrically connected to said processing and control circuit (11).

19. Electronic watch (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that said indicator means are constituted by a sound generator or a vibrating element or one or more light sources, controlled by said processing and control circuit (11).